2024 Terra Sancta Shingle Beach Bannockburn Pinot Noir, Central Otago

An incredible wine with aromas of dried strawberries, dried flowers, cloves, white pepper and limestone. It’s medium- to full-bodied with superb presence and intensity. The strawberry and mineral undertones go on for minutes. Great texture and energy. From Dijon clone planted in 2001. Organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

99 points jamessuckling.com

Terra Sancta Shingle Beach Bannockburn Pinot Noir from Central Otago is a striking, site driven wine that captures the raw energy and distinctive character of one of Bannockburn’s most compelling vineyard parcels. The Shingle Beach vineyard sits on the warmer, rock strewn terraces of Bannockburn, where schist gravel, sand and loess soils force the vines to struggle, producing naturally low yields and intensely flavoured fruit. Terra Sancta is a family owned estate with deep roots in Bannockburn, and under the guidance of winemaker Rob Hay, the focus has always been on expressing site honestly rather than polishing away its edges. Shingle Beach is very much a reflection of that philosophy, bold, savoury and unmistakably Central Otago.

The vineyard’s free draining soils and exposure to warm days and cold nights give this Pinot both power and tension. Fruit is hand harvested, with a thoughtful use of whole bunches to build aromatic lift and structure. Fermentation is wild, extraction is gentle and maturation takes place in French oak, used sparingly to support the fruit and texture rather than impose flavour. The aim is clarity of place, not gloss.

The aromatics are dark, complex and deeply evocative. Black cherry, dark plum and wild raspberry sit alongside dried rose, thyme and cracked spice. There is a pronounced savoury edge beneath the fruit, offering schist dust, ironstone and forest floor, giving the wine a brooding, earthy character. With air, notes of orange peel, clove and subtle oak warmth emerge, adding layers without softening the wine’s core intensity.

The palate is powerful yet finely structured. Dark fruit drives through firm, finely grained tannins that give shape and authority without heaviness. Flavours of black cherry, cranberry, spice and savoury earth unfold slowly, carried by fresh acidity that keeps the wine energetic and long. The finish is persistent, mineral and slightly wild, leaving an impression of place rather than sweetness. While compelling now with decanting, this Pinot is built to age, rewarding eight to fifteen years in the cellar with greater harmony, truffle and sous bois complexity.

A natural match for roast duck, game meats, mushroom based dishes, slow cooked lamb or earthy vegetarian fare. Terra Sancta Shingle Beach Pinot Noir is unapologetically expressive, a true Bannockburn wine that speaks clearly of schist, sun and southern extremes.